FOR REGISTERED SOUTH AFRICANS ABROAD IN AUSTRIA, SLOVENIA AND SLOVAKIA

Südafrika

14. März 2019

MINISTER SISULU TO ATTEND A MEETING OF THE SADC COUNCIL OF MINISTERS IN NAMIBIA

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Lindiwe Sisulu, MP, will travel to Windhoek, Namibia, for a meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Council of Ministers scheduled for 15 to 16 March 2019.

The SADC Council of Ministers is responsible for overseeing the functioning and development of the region. The Council also ensures that policies and decisions taken are implemented.

The upcoming SADC Council of Ministers Meeting is expected to deliberate on a number of key issues pertaining to the region and will also consider a number of strategic documents and receive update reports on the progress made since the last meeting, which took place in Windhoek, Namibia in August 2018.

Key issues to be deliberated upon will include the status of finances of the organisation and the approval of the 2019/20 budget. Furthermore, Council will also reflect on progress made towards Continental and Regional Integration.

In addition, Council will receive a progress report on the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap and on the implementation of the current theme of the 38th SADC Summit “Promoting Infrastructure Development and Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development.”

South Africa will also report on the state of readiness relating to the hosting of the upcoming SADC Solidarity Conference with the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, scheduled to take place in South Africa from 25 to 26 March 2019.

The SADC Council of Ministers Meeting was preceded by meetings of the SADC Standing Committee of Senior Officials on 11 March 2019 and the Finance Committee on 12 March 2019.

Minister Sisulu will be accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Bulelani Magwanishe and senior officials from other departments.